A Pandemic and Furloughed

In these trying times…
In these uncertain times…
In these unprecedented times…

Whatever your variation in the saying, COVID-19 has impacted all of us in some way, some more than others. From forced isolation from others, to missing trips to grandma and grandpa’s, mandatory mask ordinances, distance learning, and working from home – I could go on and on. We all have been affected to some degree.

For my daughter and I, we’ve social distanced and have worn our masks. Thankfully, we’ve been lucky enough to maintain our health and avoid catching COVID-19.

Then the notification came, “you’ve been furloughed”.

Each day I often wonder if this is how my 15-year career in the same office will end. A career that has been riddled with obstacles, change, and most importantly opportunities. The Great Recession, a spin-off, two acquisitions, four different CEOs…and it was COVID-19 that put my career with the company on hold, and gave me new opportunities.

After receiving the news that I would be celebrating my 15-year anniversary with the company in furlough I took some time for myself, and started planning. Planning what was next, not only financially and career wise, but how was I going to use this time to come out on the other side a better version of myself.

For me personally I love lists. While lists can be overwhelming at times (especially when you’re creating them), they allow you to focus on one item at a time. Suggestion: using a tool like Trello is a great way to organize your lists without paper, and more importantly, they allow you to see the progress (or lack thereof) that you’re making.

Using Trello, I created three primary categories:

• Learn: topics, or classes that I wanted to learn more about
• Do: items around the house that I wanted to take care of (after moving recently there were plenty), and tasks that I needed to complete regarding my recent furlough
• Breathe: things to do to make sure I took time for myself mentally and spiritually

By creating lists, it enabled me to not only be organized, but remain focused to ensure I accomplished and made the best use of my time.

If you find yourself furloughed, or worse, laid-off, here are my recommendations to make the best use of your time:

Financials

• Now is not the time to be proud. File for unemployment benefits the first day that you can (even if you don’t think you’re eligible), and get the money that you’re eligible for. You have no idea how long you will not be earning a paycheck, and you may need the money in the future.
• Notify your creditors of your situation. In most cases (as with most of mine) they will work with you.
• Put yourself on a budget, and reduce spending as much as you can

Employment

• Hopefully you’ve kept your resume up-to-date. But if you haven’t (like me), dust it off to make sure it most accurately represents you. If it’s been awhile since you’ve last had to use it, it may be time to update the format.
• Take some time to think about your career goals, where you want to work next, and start applying for jobs that will help you attain your goals. Each day I spent (and still spend) a couple hours reviewing job boards and applying for positions. 

Learn

• Don’t underestimate the need to continue to learn, especially during this time.
• Whether it is a new skill, enhancing an existing skill, or focusing on a completely new subject entirely, it’s important to keep your mind active.
• Develop new tools for your tool belt as one would say (hat tip BNK).

Breathe

Lastly, and this is especially important, BREATHE. More often than not, I’m guilty of not taking time to breathe. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in “what needs to be done” that we forget about our mental health and sanity for lack of better words.

For me personally, walks in new places around my new neighborhood, time with family and friends, day trips, and most importantly reflection and meditation served me well. For others it may be art, gardening, or writing. Whatever brings you peace and relaxation, make sure you take the time to do it.

Were you recently furloughed or laid-off? How are you spending your time?